Rand al'Thor is ruling in both Caemlyn and Cairhien, Traveling back and forth between them. Mazrim Taim arrives, and Rand sets him in charge of his school for men who can channel, whom he names Asha'man; he has Davram Bashere organize the volunteers who cannot channel into an army. Rand is approached in Caemlyn by Aes Sedai emissaries from Salidar, accompanied by Min, and in Cairhien by emissaries from Elaida with an escort for honor headed by Gawyn Trakand and his Younglings. There are also Sea Folk ambassadors in both places.

Alanna and Verin join the Caemlyn group with girls from the Two Rivers and Rand manages to alienate many who knew him as children. While visiting them, he is bonded without consent by Alanna, who finds she cannot use the bond to compel him. Egwene discovers her love toward Gawyn while spying in one of his dreams and later by encountering him in the city and secretly meeting in an inn. Gawyn believes that Rand al'Thor killed his mother and sows a special hatred toward Rand, but by loving Egwene he promises her that he won't hurt Rand. The Aes Sedai in Cairhien offer Rand chests full of gold and jewels thinking they can buy him. Egwene is summoned by the Salidar Aes Sedai, and Rand sends Mat and the Band, with Aviendha to fetch Elayne and return her to Caemlyn so she could be crowned as well as look after Egwene. Perrin and Loial arrive. Although he distances himself from Aviendha, he keeps Min close, not seeing her love for him. After one of the Caemlyn group of Aes Sedai is attacked supposedly by a group of Aiel, they blame Rand and become hostile just when 2 more Sisters arrive at Caemlyn turning the number of the sisters to thirteen. Terrorized and untrustful, Rand leaves for Cairhien with Min, Perrin and Loial. Shortly afterward, he and Min are captured by the Aes Sedai in Cairhien. They hide him in a chest; after he tries to escape and kills 2 Warders, they keep him there at all times, taking him out regularly to beat him. He develops claustrophobia, interacts more and more with Lews Therin, and becomes more firm in his emotional detachment and mistrust of Aes Sedai. Lews Therin helps him break the weavings of the Aes Sedai and the chest. When he breaks free, he inadvertently stills several of the Aes Sedai holding him captive. He later makes a number swear allegiance to him.

Mat Cauthon leads his personal army and many of Rand's forces downriver to Tear. He takes pity on an orphan boy named Olver, who accompanies them afterward. When Rand finds out that Egwene went to Salidar he sends Mat and the Band after her, into Altara, with Aviendha. He gives Mat orders to bring back Elayne to take both the Lion Throne and the Sun Throne, and to bring Egwene and Nynaeve, should they need it, and otherwise to protect them. Upon arriving and finding Egwene is Amyrlin, Mat has little to do. He sees that the other Aes Sedai aren't treating her with the proper respect, and makes a show of courtesing, for which Egwene is really glad. When Nynaeve and Elayne leave for Ebou Dar, Mat accompanies them, leaving most of the Band behind. Elayne insists on "testing" his ter'angreal without his permission, so when they arrive he stays with his soldiers in an inn.

Perrin Aybara, now Lord of the Two Rivers, leaves with a force of men because he believes Rand needs him. They arrive in Caemlyn and he and Rand catch up; shortly afterward, Rand leaves for Cairhien and takes Perrin with him. Faile's jealousy of Berelain is reawakened when they meet her in Cairhien. After Rand disappears, Perrin is instrumental in realizing what happened, and leads a force of Aiel, Mayeners, Cairhienin, and Aes Sedai to free him. Perrin finds himself sickened by the carnage of the ensuing battle.

General Notes: Due to the fact that the Prologue of this book is over 30,000 words, percentages taken from the Prologue will be expressed with decimal points. Due to the fact that the Narrator's POV in Chapter 12 is about ten words long, percentages taken from that chapter will also be expressed with decimal points. Because of the size of the book and the number of POV's in the book, the second column will be expressed with three digits after the decimal point instead of the regular two digits.

1 Rand al'Thor has two POV's in Chapters 18, 49, 50, 51, and 55. For Chapter 18, his first is 51% of the chapter and his second is 4% of the chapter. For Chapter 49, his first is 42% of the chapter and his second is 19% of the chapter. In Chapter 50, his first is 61% of the chapter and his second is 4% of the chapter. In Chapter 51, his first is 53% of the chapter and his second is 20% of the chapter. In Chapter 55, his first is 7% of the chapter and his second is 60% of the chapter. Chapters 18, 49, and 55 have four POV's each, Chapter 50 has three POV's, and Chapter 51 has five POV's.

2 Egwene al'Vere has two POV's in Chapters 33 and 37. For Chapter 33, her first is 15% of the chapter and her second is 27% of the chapter. For Chapter 37, her first is 67% of the chapter and her second is 2% of the chapter. Chapter 33 has three POV's and Chapter 37 has eight POV's.

3 Chapter 46 has five POV's, two of which are in Perrin Aybara's POV and two of which are in Demira Eriff's POV. For Perrin, his first is 39% of the chapter and his second is 15% of the chapter. For Demira, her first is 11% of the chapter and her second is 15% of the chapter.

4 Chapter 53 has five POV's, two of which are from Galina Casban's POV. Her first is 12% of the chapter and his second is 4% of the chapter.

5 This character is not named although from his words, it is known that he is Seanchan, and has had a conversation with Mat Cauthon previously in the series.